Dutch architect upcycles 1895 coach house using materials salvaged from 1950s office building

As part of his latest project, architect Rolf Bruggink has repurposed a 1895 coach house into a stunning, modernist home, using materials salvaged from a dilapidated wooden building. Located in Netherlands‘ Utrecht, the innovative dwelling was erected on a property that was originally home to a 1950s office building, which was demolished after Bruggink purchased it in 2011. Speaking about the new structure, which is being called the House of Rolf, the architect said:

The principle of transformation is most important to me . The notion that an existing building can be adapted so as to take on an entirely new countenance is something that fascinates me.

Spread over a relatively modest area of around 538-square-feet, the dwelling combines historical architecture of the coach house with the modern need for functionality, especially pertaining to floor space optimization. In the middle of the building lies a free-standing wooden structure that in turn houses the kitchen on the lower level and the bathroom, bedroom and office on the upper floor.

Lining the middle section on one side is a staircase that allows access to the bedroom and bathroom. The back wall of the house features an expansive glass window that ensures the availability of natural light. The furniture items were chosen from Niek Wagemans’ Confused Furniture series, with Netherlands-based Atelier Remy & Veenhuizen providing a colorful upcycled rug that boasts a similar spirit of history and reuse.